/ 



THE cm 

■OIL AND DREAM. 






VERSE 



BY 



WILLIAM CARY SANGER. jR. 



THE CITY OF 

TOIL AND 

DREAMS 



VERSE 



BY 
WILLIAM CARY SANGER. jR. 

AUTHOR OF "TIDES OF COMMERCE" 



XTbc Ikntcfterbocfter press 

NEW YORK 

19IS 






4^\^P\<K^ 



Copyright, 1918 

BY 

WILLIAM GARY SANGER, Jr. 



©CI.A481761 

FEB I9!S!8 



*^» .'/h 



\ 



This Bool^ is Dedicated 

to 

My Father and Mother 



"The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers 
are few ; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest 
that He will send forth laborers into His harvest." 



PREFACE 

Most of the verses in this volume were 
written while the author was at school and 
college, some having been originally published 
in the Vindex of St. Mark's school, during the 
years 1910-1912, and others in the Harvard 
Advocate from 1913 to 1916. The date at the 
end of each poem indicates the year when it 
was written. 

The first edition of this book was published 
in 1916. In the present edition there are 
several new poems. 

Tides of Commerce, by the same author, 
contains additional verses written while at 
school and college. 

The writer wishes to thank those friends who 
have helped him by their criticisms, comments, 
and suggestions. 

W. C. S., Jr. 



Vll 



The City of 
Toil and Dreams 



INTRODUCTION— 1912 

The cities of the world, with their intense 
concentration of active human life, offer the 
greatest field for the study and improvement of 
mankind. 

In the past, living conditions in cities have 
been unwholesome and unsanitary beyond de- 
scription. At certain times plagues swept away 
life from whole city blocks and entire urban 
districts, and even during the most favorable 
seasons the mortality was high. But as the 
centuries passed, cities began to improve; and 
gradually a decided spirit of awakened civic 
interest commenced to make itself felt. Men 
began to see clearly, and they realized that things 
not only could, but must, be improved, and as a 



2 Introduction 

result the living conditions in tenement districts 
were bettered; provision was made for more 
parks and playgrounds, public schools were 
remodeled, employment offices opened, and, in 
short, a whole series of active and useful alter- 
ations were commenced. 

Although conditions have been considerably 
bettered, the good work is by no means finished. 
In fact, it has only just begun, for in countless 
homes of the poorer quarters of the city, poverty, 
disease, degeneracy, and wretchedness still hold 
their pitiless sway. Innumerable indeed are 
the unrecorded "legions of the damned. " 

One thing, however, is encouraging: the tide 
has already turned and the cities are slowly be- 
coming better. Nor should it be thought that 
cities are necessarily harmful to health. Cities 
are a natural economic development, and when 
properly planned and managed are certain to 
make wholesome, comfortable, and attractive 
places in which to live. Moreover, cities are 
capable of contributing marked benefits upon 
humanity which can be secured in no other way. 
The concentration of the many varied interests 
in cities makes it possible for the individual to 
obtain knowledge of any subject or group of 



Introduction 3 

subjects in a way which would be absolutely 
impossible outside of a city. Whether his inter- 
est be painting, music, architecture, writing, 
medicine, law, engineering, or any other line of 
activity, the individual will find in the cities the 
most abundant opportunities for the study of his 
field of interest — among a host of kindred people 
who are specializing in the same subject, and in 
addition will find a large number of critics and 
masters who are the guiding spirits in their par- 
ticular line. 

And so it is with every one and with each field 
of interest. The city is the means — and the 
only means — of giving to humanity certain privi- 
leges and blessings which go far towards en- 
nobling and enriching mankind — by extending 
the individual's sphere of life and by giving him 
the opportunity for the realization of his dreams- 

In order to secure to the fullest extent the 
benefits which a municipality is capable of giv- 
ing, the city must not only be clean and whole- 
some, but also beautiful. The importance of 
this has gradually come to be realized. Civic 
and landscape architects are planning for the 
remodeling and beautifying of streets and ave- 
nues on an extended scale, while drawings are 



4 Introduction 

being made for the development of civic centers 
to be surrounded by groups of public buildings 
of harmonious architecture. The city planners 
provide, moreover, that avenues and boulevards 
shall be further improved and interconnected 
in such a way that the whole vast scattered sys- 
tem may at last become welded into one attrac- 
tive and harmonious unit. 

Along with the architectural improvement 
there must be the steady development of the 
intellectual, physical, and moral character of the 
people, for only with a strong and sturdy moral 
fiber in its men and women can the material 
development of the city fulfill its highest pur- 
pose. The physical perfection of the city would 
then become a symbol of the lives of its in- 
habitants. 

Such, then, is the dream of the Builders, and 
slowly — so slowly — but nevertheless surely, that 
dream is being realized. A seemingly limitless 
amount of work has yet to be done ; but time and 
determination will conquer all things in the end. 
Already the signs of the awakening are at hand. 
Each department of every city seems to be 
catching at least some gleam of the dawn, and 
not only the vast commercial stores and office 



Introduction 5 

buildings of the cities but even the great rail- 
road terminals are being built with a view to 
architectural beauty as well as to efficient service. 

Looking at the panorama of a great city of the 
present day, and striving to comprehend the 
industry and power for which it stands, with its 
glorious, pulsing, active life, its continual work 
of reconstruction and betterment, and its granite 
buildings and towers reared against the sky, 
there comes a vision of that city in the future — 
a new and reawakened city, a greater and in- 
finitely better city — the city that is to be. 

If this little book succeeds in creating a greater 
interest in civic problems, and an added appre- 
ciation of the pathos, romance, and beauty to be 
found in every city, it will have accomplished 
the purpose for which it was written. 

IQI2. 

W. C. S., Jr. 

P. S. September 25, 1915. The European 
War has now continued for more than a year. 
The world can appreciate better than ever what 
unparalleled and gruesome carnage war with 
present-day weapons involves, and can perhaps 
foresee what future international combat would 



6 Introduction 

be with mechanical inventions as yet undreamed 
of but certain to be developed. Just as past 
ages could not clearly imagine the present ma- 
chinery of war, we can only dimly guess at the 
wholesale weapons of destruction which future 
ages could perfect and apply. We can under- 
stand to-day how great are the losses of war — 
ethnically, eugenically, and financially. Some 
of war's losses, however, we cannot count. The 
misery and agon}^ of the wounded soldiers can 
never be tabulated on paper, nor can statistics 
record the wretchedness and anguish of the be- 
reaved families at home. Moreover, no figures 
can ever tell us of the loss to the world from the 
death on the battlefield of scientists, painters, 
musicians, sculptors, writers, teachers, and all 
that host of able and conscientious men whose 
lives, had they been spared, would have enriched 
and ennobled mankind. 

Try to imagine the feelings of such men — who 
at the outbreak of the war, in obedience to their 
sense of honor, volunteer — leaving their homes 
and families and their life's work, to which in 
their prayers they had dedicated their all — forced 
by circumstances to kill other such men as they, 
who, like them, had striven to uplift the world 



Introduction 7 

by their efforts, and whose only reason for being 
killed was that they happened to be on the 
"other side." 

No — the world must not permit war to con- 
tinue. It has been "weighed in the balance and 
found wanting." 

The spirit of combat when properly curbed 
and sensibly utilized is a blessing to all individu- 
als, and must hereafter be developed and given 
abundant opportunity to find expression in 
universally practiced and vigorous athletics — 
but not in international war. 

An International Police Force of the armies 
and navies of the great nations of the world 
must be developed to uphold and make effective 
by force, when needed, the decisions of an In- 
ternational Court (such as The Hague Tribunal) 
and thus secure the peace of the world. This 
plan, which has been suggested by various in- 
dividuals and has recently been much discussed 
by newspapers and magazines, seems to be the 
most sensible and effective yet proposed. When 
all countries came to recognize the sanctity of 
the International Court's decrees, the police 
forces of the world powers could be very con- 
siderably reduced in size. 



8 Introduction 

As a preliminary step towards the creation of 
an International Police Force, a practical and 
effective plan is being developed which has for 
its object the establishment among the World 
Powers of a "League, to Enforce Peace. " All 
the great nations of the earth would be signa- 
tories to this League, and would agree to have 
recourse to a Court of Arbitration for deciding 
all justiciable questions and a Council of Con- 
ciliation for all such as were non-justiciable, 
before adopting any hostile measures. The 
League would further provide that any nation 
which should fail to abide by the terms of the 
agreement would be debarred from economic 
opportunities, privileges, and trade rights with 
the rest of the League, and should this measure 
fail, the League would use its combined armies 
and navies to enforce submission to its laws. 

Until the International Police Force is devel- 
oped it is necessary and right for each nation to 
arm itself to a reasonable degree for the purpose 
of protecting itself against foreign invasion. 
Ultra-pacifist and "peace at any price" policies 
are as dangerous as they are unsound. The 
military and naval forces which are developed 
should be maintained, however, solely for de- 



Introduction 9 

fense — and not for the purpose of invading for- 
eign soil except as might be necessary in order to 
fulfill the police duties of the League to Enforce 
Peace. And at the same time that a nation pre- 
pares itself with reasonable and adequate mili- 
tary and naval armaments for defense, it should 
strive without ceasing for the establishment of 
a permanent International Police Force into 
which its own army and navy, along with the 
armies and navies of all other nations, would 
eventually be merged. But while a nation is 
adopting reasonable armaments for defense it 
must not neglect the most important object to 
be achieved — namely : the education of the people 
in the interests of International Conciliation. 
Justice, common sense, and righteousness among 
the nations will then be based upon the surest 
foundation — the knowledge and will of the 
people. 

A question of vital importance is, how soon 
can permanent international peace be estab- 
lished? But before this is to be positively ac- 
complished, great and perplexing problems await 
the present and coming generations. Old tradi- 
tions are hard to break; old national jealousies 
will for a long time smoulder. The world needs 



10 Introduction 

new empire builders for old. Statesmen must 
arise who will look with justice and kindness 
beyond the borders of their own countries, 
knowing and understanding the universal broth- 
erhood of man. And in that day, the cities 
of the world will come into their own. Men will 
not destroy them with siege-gun, fire, and sword. 

To-day the path of the armies of war is strewn 
with desolation and death. Broken wagons 
and artillery pieces lie scattered over the plains, 
along with the battered bodies of the wrecks that 
once were men. The smoke of burning homes 
and cities, drifts far up into the weird gray heav- 
ens, and, as night comes on, the burning towns 
and cities cast their strange red light against the 
lonely skies. 

But To-morrow all will be changed. When 
that To-morrow of International Peace does 
come, men will no longer blindly destroy what 
has been so carefully upbuilded. In the fields 
there will be a different harvest and in the cities 
there will be a brighter dawn. 



A CREED OF THE HARBOR 

I believe in you, great harbor, 

And great city ; 

I believe in your courage, 

Your toil, 

And your dreams. 

Slowly but surely from the city of Yesterday and 
To-day 

You are building a new and infinitely wonderful 

City of To-morrow. 

I was born at your gates 

And have watched and loved you 

Through the years : 

Your ships and docks, your towering buildings, 
your streets black with humanity; 

I have watched the intense and ceaseless struggle 

Within your soul, 

The passionate striving of the forces of good and 
evil. 

I believe that you shall be victorious, great har- 
bor and city. 

II 



12 A Creed of the Harbor 

I believe in your To-morrow. 

Yet there are many who have hated you 

And feared you 

And cursed you. 

Cursed you for your power and pride, 

Cursed you for your merciless crushing of their 
bodies and their souls. 

Seeing only the driftwood and the refuse 

Floating beside some old, uncared-for wooden 
dock. 

Not seeing 

Your clean, new granite docks and piers — 

Heedless of your white stone towers 

Against the summer skies, 

Neglecting to see the 

Taintless tide come rolling in to your distant, 
sandy beaches. 

Your problems I have studied 

And striven to aid in their solution ; 

I know your dingy and 

Mournfully dilapidated tenement districts 

— The squalor and wretchedness. 

The overcrowding — dim, ill-ventilated corri- 
dors, 

Where the single gas jet 

Flickers and flares 



A Creed of the Harbor 13 

So fitfully and drearily, 

Casting weird shadows along the crumbling 

wall-paper of the narrow hallway. 
I have also beheld your new and splendid monu- 
ments of granite : 
Civic buildings 

Dedicated to the service of the people. 
And I have seen your great schools and other 

municipal structures 
Built worthy of the Children of To-morrow 
Whom they shall fashion and consecrate. 
I have loved you, great harbor and city, 
Your tireless energy, 

Your continual work of improvement and recon- 
struction. 
I have watched your subways and foundations 
Being built by day and night: 
Weirdly wonderful at night, 

With torches and electric lamps 

Lighting up the faces of the workmen 

And casting strange shadows 

On the structural work 

In the midst of the cavernous rock ledges 

Far, far below the street level. 

And by day I have watched your steel-girded 
sky-scrapers being built 



14 A Creed of the Harbor 

Away up into the clouds, 

With tiny specks of workmen 

Standing or walking along narrow steel beams 
and projecting girders 

Silhouetted against the sky. 

I have seen your docks and steamers 

By day and night, 

Beloved harbor. 

I have looked out upon you and traveled upon 
your tides in the 

Dawns and in the sunsets, 

In rain and fog, in mist and snow. 

I have known you in the spring and in the fall, 
in summer and in winter, 

At high noon and by starlight and moonlight. 

I have been refreshed and rested in your parks, 

Uplifted and inspired by your energy and 
strength and patience. 

I know that in your soul there is a depth of kind- 
ness and love 

Past all believing, 

For I have seen your striving and toiling in your 
search 

For the truth 

And the light 

And the right. 



A Creed of the Harbor 15 

I believe in you, for I know that 
Where there is a granite monument 
There also is a builder's dream. 

1915- 



IN THE CITY OF TOIL AND DREAMS 

City of Toil and Dreams, 

City of might and power y 
Splendor undying gleams 

Proudly each hour. 
Sorrow and sin and shame 

Often attend thee. 
Honor and praise and fame 

Millions extend thee. 

Dawn — and the shadows fade. 

From wall and excavation 
The laborer with pick and spade 

(Brawn of the nation) 
Gazes with sunlit eyes 

His tired soul uplifting 
Where in the morning skies 

Bright clouds are drifting. 

Noon — in the canon streets 
Pulses the tide so proudly, 
i6 



In the City of Toil and Dreams 17 

Traffic that rolls and beats 

Steadily, loudly. 
Sullen, grim halls and marts, 

Often their star-dreams hiding, 
Yet — in their heart of hearts 

Love is abiding. 

Sunset — the tired throng 

In street and square and byway 
Endlessly streams along 

Avenue, highway. — 
All to their homes go back, 

The traffic's roar increasing. 
Crowds over bridge and track 

Pass without ceasing. 

Night — and the stars on high 

Twinkle their friendly greeting. 
Shadows are passing by, 

Lovers are meeting. 
Silent the moonbeams play 

Dancing and gleaming. 
Now the great city may 

Turn to its dreaming. 

Deep in thy starry night 

Sleep through each mystic hour 



1 8 In the City of Toil and Dreams 

While the moon's slanting light 

Tips roof and tower; 
In thy mortality 

Angels helove thee^ 
For immortality 

Watches above thee. 

City of Toil and Dreams^ 

City of might and power, 
Splendor undying gleams 

Proudly each hour. 
Sorrow and sin and shame 

Often are near thee, 
Kindness and love and fame 

To all endear thee. 

1915- 



THE LEGIONS OF THE DAMNED 

There's a host that's scattered afar and near, 

A miserable, hopeless crew, 
The poor tattered army of unemployed. 

Whose chances in life are few. 
Some call them worthless vagabonds 

And think their misery shammed, 
Some call them wrecks, while some believe 

They're the legions of the damned. 

It's all very well for the rest to say 

That there's plenty of work to do. 
But, perhaps, if their luck wasn't quite so good, 

Even they might be derelicts too, 
Lost in the host of the unemployed 

And doomed to sink in the end; 
Drifting along to the gates of death. 

For want of a helping friend. 

And the world forgets that years ago, 
Near the Mediterranean Sea, 

19 



20 The Legions of the Damned 



A pilot saved the helpless ships 

On the waters of Galilee; 
He came to this world to seek the lost 

To care for the sick and the poor, 
And to bring the wrecks on the sea of life 

To the ports of the other shore. 

But the world forgets, and they drift along, 

Derelicts, here and there, 
While the ships that pass haven't time to pause 

(For the world hasn't time to care) ; 
So drifting out on the sea of life 

Awash, with the rudder jammed, 
And the rocks to clear, but no pilot near. 

Go the legions of the damned. 

igio. 



THE VISION OF HIS WORK 

The mist of early morning clears away, 
And sunlight comes — along the harbor vast. 
Derrick and dock and steamer wake again ; 
And buildings of the city come to view; 
Great offices that tower to the skies, 
Resplendent in the warmth and majesty 
Of golden fire — that flares across the bay 
And tips with flame a thousand window panes. 
Beyond the curving Battery's ferry-slips. 
Across the sunlit harbor there appears 
The outline of the distant westward shore. 
The day-shift dockers now come swarming in 
To wharf and yard, while steamers ring with 

work 
Of loading and unloading — blocks and spars 
Rattle and creak and groan as derricks swing. 
The salty tide with endless lapping wash 
Mutters and sHps and eddies round the piles 
Of time-worn docks where ships have moored for 

years ; 

21 



22 The Vision of His Work 

And whistles of the harbor craft ring out, 
Echoing back from wall and wharf and pier, 
While far above, the white gulls cry and wheel. 
And as the wakened harbor shines and gleams 
In all the glory of the morning light, 
The Vision of His work comes sure and clear 
And leads the way, and beckons ever on, 
And says to each: ''Come on, begin your work, 
However small and himible it may seem, 
Each little helps — the harvest here is great. 
Good laborers are few — begin your work. " 
And from some harbor craft far up the bay 
A whistle seems to call — "Begin your Day. " 

igi2. 



SNOWSTORM 

(Seen from the observation gallery of a sky- 
scraper tower) 

Over the tops of the buildings. 

Drifting, swirling snow, 

Falling far down, down. 

And losing itself in the gray-white mist of drift- 
ing flakes below. 

The cafion streets are lost somewhere in the 
whiteness, 

Little snow flurries gather and sweep along the 
near-by ledge of the granite coping and 
dizzy cornice, 

And whirling far out are lost in the dim, white 
abyss. 

For a moment the storm slackens. 

First the summits of other great buildings appear, 

Granite towers looming out of the grayness; 

Then come roofs of other lesser buildings far 
below ; 

23 



24 Snowstorm 

Lastly, way, way down are seen the snow-gray 

streets 
With tiny specks of people and trolleys 
Crawling slowly along. 
Again the storm increases, 
The streets disappear. 
And soon the other giant office-buildings are 

lost to view. 
The great tower trembles in the storm 
As the gale roars and moans and batters 
Around the corners, 
And the countless snowflake squadrons 
Whirling from the sullen skies above 
Go pelting and flying and eddying past the great 

tower 
And are lost — 
Far, far, below — 
In the grayness of the vague abyss. 

1915- 



TO 



I often wonder, dear, 
If in the day, 

Or in the moonlit stillness of the night, 
When I so often wish that you were near 
To make the quiet hours glad and bright ;— 
Oh, most alluring girl of dreams and play, 
Child of my hopes through all eternity, 
Perfect in all, and with a heart so true, 
I wonder, when I think and dream of you. 
If you are also thinking then of me. 

1915- 



25 



UNDER THE BRIDGE 

Only the great, dim bridge, 

Far, very far above, and the stars 

Dreaming lazily in the warm, still night. 

Along the quiet river banks 

The sleepy buildings of the city, 

Shadowy, vague, blue-gray in the dimness. 

The lights along the bank 

Burn low; 

Here and there on the star-lit tide 

Dark moving outlines of boats, 

Drowsy toilers of the harbor 

Each with lights — white, red, and green. 

That glide beneath them in the calm languid 
water. 

The city is very tired to-night. 

Wistfully thinking of half -forgotten yesterdays 

Or yearning to-morrows. 

There is sadness and magic wonder in the moon- 
light, 

26 



Under the Bridge 27 

A boat glides slowly under the great dim bridge, 
And the stars dream lazily in the sky 
Above the tired harbor 
As it sleeps. 



LINCOLN MEMORIAL 
(Bronze Statue) 

Gaunt — in his humble, homely, wrinkled suit, 
Rugged and grim, unswerving, resolute — 
Kindly upon the sadness of the town 
The great Emancipator gazes down. 



But see — the sunset glow has touched the bronze, 
Lighting the homely, kindly, saddened face 
With sympathy and charity for all, 
While here and there about the monimient 
Are little groups of people. Now a man. 
White-haired and halting in his feeble step. 
Comes slowly shambling near and leans upon 
His walking stick and gazes fondly up 
Into the sunHt face — seeming to feel 
An inspiration in that life so firm, 
So sad, so sympathetic — then he pauses, 
Bows his head, and hobbles on again. 

28 



Lincoln Memorial 29 

A widow next approaches — with a child, 
And pointing upward to the glowing bronze 
Half whispers a few words that linger long 
Within the memory of the wondering boy. 
A careless group of idlers saunter up 
— But hush their laughter and subdue their tones, 
Standing together there in silent thought. 
And so throughout the restless, changing hours 
The tired and the weary and the sick 
Pause for a moment in their hurried course 
And then — go on with courage, hope, and 

strength 
To face the endless problems of their lives. 



Gaunt — in his himible, homely, wrinkled suit. 
Patient and firm, unswerving, resolute — 
Kindly upon the sadness of the town 
The great Emancipator gazes down. 

1913- 



THE PRICE 

(Voices from the shadows of the great city) 

In the glow of the early morning 

When Time stretched out before, 
And life was the life of the moment, 

And no sentinel guarded the door 
To the paths of sin and pleasure, 

We played as it pleased us most; 
Did what a thousand others 

Have done without counting the cost. 
We went where our will directed, 

Went and were not afraid — 
But now we know when the day is done 

How dear was the price we paid. 

1913- 



30 



CATHEDRAL BUILDERS 

I am only a poor workman on a great Cathedral. 
But I praise the Master Builder 
That I am allowed to do my share in the building. 
Reverently I help to swing the great stone blocks 

into their places ; 
Where they shall rest 
Until the end of the world. 
And every evening at sunset, 
When the day's work is done, 
I look backward 

And see with joy that the Cathedral is growing, 
And I know 
That the work is good. 

1915- 



31 



EVENING CALM 

When all the ttunult of the day is past, 

And evening shadows move across the walls 
Of towering buildings — looming dim and vast 

From somber streets, where deeper darkness 
falls ; 
There comes to me a calmness and a rest 

That stills the troubled soul and brings it 
peace 
Like the reposeful dreaming of the blest 

That after life's long journey find release. 

1916. 



32 



VOICES 

(From the depths of the city) 

Well — our story's just the same 
As the rest who've tried the game, 

For we've played our hand like other fools, — 
and lost it in the end. 
We've thrown our chance away, 
And learned just what we pay; 

God — we haven't even got one honest friend. 

Oh, the life beyond remaking, 
And the horror of the waking. 

When the reeling dawn creeps upward with 
its ghastly mocking light. 
And we live through years of pain 
Till the shadows fall again 

And we face another hopeless, endless night. 

Yes — we've lost the bygone years 
And there's little left that cheers, 
3 33 



34 Voices 

For the harvest days are over when we might 

have worked and won. 
So we'll stagger on, God knows, 
Till the final chapters close 
And the useless, endless life at last is done. 

igi2. 



THE GIFT OF THE WARRIORS 

To you we now bequeath that peace 

Which was not ours to know, 
Freedom, security, release 
From dangers of the foe. 

The foreign ranks shall not again 

Burnt cities trample under, 
Nor shall the hosts across the plain 
Sweep with their steel and thunder. 

To you we give that needed rest 

Which was not ours to find ; 
Each night you sleep serenely — blest — 
At peace in heart and mind. 

No longer shall the dull red glow 

Flare in the smoke-dimmed heaven 

Whose flaming cloud-belts weirdly show 

Where countless hosts have striven. 

And unto you we give that fame 
Which was not ours to share: 
35 



36 The Gift of the Warriors 

The glory of a sculptor's name, 
A writer's words of prayer. 

For we had dreamed our glorious dreams, 

Each in his field of knowing, 
But we laid them by — for war's dull gleams, 
The hope of our life foregoing. 



To you we give those hours of love 

That we so early lost, 
For war had called on us to prove 
Our faith — whate'er the cost. 
The joys of home and fireside: 

A woman's soft caresses 
And children's laughter — merry-eyed, 
The love that cheers and blesses. 



And unto you the dawn we give 

Which is not ours to see, 
To you and yours the right to live, 
In thought and action — free. 

To you we give the morning light 
On lake and hillside streaming, 
And flashing on the city's height 
With colors bright and gleaming. 



The Gift of the Warriors 37 

For you the freedom and the life — 

For us an unknown grave 
After an agony of strife 
That others we might save. 

Yet we rejoice that in our pain, 

Our sacrifice and sorrow, 
We may bequeath to you our gain, 
The everlasting Morrow. 

January, ipi6. 



IN THE NAME OF THE MASTER 

Blind — we kneel in darkness, 

Oh grant us of Thy sight. 
Come near us, Great Physician, 

And lead us to the light. 

Deaf — we ask Thy mercy ; 

But touch each waiting ear 
That we may know the glory 

Of the truth we long to hear. 

Sick — in pain and helpless, 

Through anguish none may tell; 

We long to hear the message 
That alone can make us well. 

Lame — we lack the power 
To serve Thee in Thy War. 

Heal us — that we may follow 
To battle-lines afar. 

38 



In the Name of the Master 39 

Lost — we need a Captain ; 

Oh grant usjn our strife 
Thy wisdom, strength, and courage, 

Thy guidance in our life. 

1913- 



TO YOU 

(At the ages of lo, 20, 45, and 70 years.) 

To you, because of your youth ; 

Because of your faith and trust — 
Hold to your visions of truth : 

Dust may not build on dust. 

To you, because you are strong, 
And sound of body and limb ; 

On — though the toil be long, 
On — though the work be grim. 

To you, who serve in the field, 
Bearing the brunt of the fight, 

Battle till wrong shall yield, 
Blaze the trail of the right. 

To you, whose life has been long, 
Teach the old law — ever new : 

Bid them be clean and strong, 
Kindly and wise and true. 

1913- 

40 



SNOW 

Snow, 

Falling snow 

And o'er the somber city stained and gray 

The countless flakes come drifting down below 

In silent hosts of white — serenely, slow, 

Throughout the day. 

Still, 

Calm and still 

The pulsing city's sullen murmur dies, 

For now the evening hours come — until 

Only the night and snowy squadrons fill 

The winter skies. 

Clean, 

Fresh and clean 

To-night the city rests in quiet sleep. 

And over all its myriad homes a sheen 

Of downy whiteness falls — a mystic scene 

Of stillness deep. 

41 



42 Snow 

All, 

One and all 

The dwellings of the rich and poor are white 

With Heaven's stainless snowy flakes that fall 

On window ledge and chimney, roof and wall, 

Throughout the night. 

1915- 



ON CHRISTMAS EVE 

Toys in a bright shop window, 

A child forlorn and chilled, 
Who stands and looks at the trains and books ; 

— And a dream that is not fulfilled. 

Houses of stone and granite. 

A tramp, in passing by, 
A moment waits at the iron gates ; 

— And a hope that is doomed to die. 

A mother and child by the fire, 

A mother and child in the street, 
A dream and a prayer, a sigh of despair, 

— And a heart that will learn defeat. 

Quiet and peace in the city ; 

Over the sleeping town 
The stars on high in the moonlit sky 

In pity and love look down. 

February, iqi6. 

43 



TO A YOUNG GIRL 

You did not know, 

When we were talking together last evening, 

Carelessly speaking of trivial things, 

Whiling away time — 

You did not know 

That in my heart 

I beheld you as the perfection of the creative 

work of the Master Builder 
Who builded the Stars and the Earth 
And the Children of Immortality to inherit the 

Earth. 
You did not see — for the light was dim — 
That once or twice tears came to my eyes, 
I, who have seen — so often — 
Other Children of Immortality 
Like unto you in soul 
But most pitifully tired and sick and helpless in 

body, 
Imprisoned in the heat and shadows of great 

cities. 

44 



To a Young Girl 45 

Wherefore it was with a feeHng almost akin to 

worship 
That I beheld you 

Who are so fresh, so undefiled, and so happy. 
I shall not soon forget our little talk together 

last evening, 
When we spoke of various trivial things — 
Carelessly, lightheartedly. 

1915- 



PRAYER 

(Easter Eve) 

Oh — to-night the city needs Thee, and a milhon 

hearts are calling; 
Heed their misery and anguish — Thou who 

knowest well their pain ; 
Send abroad Thy host of workers who shall 

change the old conditions 
Till the last great Easter morning comes to reign . 

igi2. 



46 



HOME 

Over the sands of desert lands 

Or over the waves of the sea, 
Across the sky my love thoughts iiy 

On wings of eternity. 
By day or night they take their flight 

Beside you, dear, to be; 
For wherever you are, though near or far, 

Is home, dear heart, for me. 

1916. 

(Written November, 191 6, on the s.s. Touraine 
of the French line while the author was en route 
for France to join the American Ambulance 
Field Service.) 



47 



TRUE LOVE 

Others loved as the sea might love a ship that 

passes by, 
But we, we loved with a dream of love that could 

never, never die. 
Others loved with a mortal love that Death and 

Time could sever. 
But we, we loved with the love that lasts forever 

and forever. 

IQ16, 



48 



ABSENCE 

When I am far from you 
On land or sea, 
By lake or mountainside, 
Although the skies may be the deepest blue 
And sunshine warm the valleys far and wide, 
Although the murmur of the ocean foam 
May lull the seacoast through the drowsy day, 
While sailboats on the sunlit waters roam 
And gulls above the breakers wheel and play. 
Yet in the midst of all this happiness 
And all this wealth of nature lavished here, 
How incomplete is all its graciousness 
Without you, dear. 

Perhaps it is your hat so trim and neat. 
Perhaps the gentle rustle of your dress, 
Or else your laughing eyes 
That quite complete your loveliness. 
Yet I believe that it is more than these, 
I think it is your heart so true and kind; 
So luring, yet demure and quick to please, 
Just such a heart as one might dream to find. 
4 49 



50 Absence 

And therefore in my constant thoughts I hold 
The vision of your love as pure as gold, 
Symbolic of all sanctity and sacredness. 
Believe me, dear, my life and happiness 
Are not complete, although the skies are blue, 
When I am far from you. 

jgi6. 



PORTRAIT 

(After the fashion of Pope) 

Behold her, seated there upon her throne, 
A sort of Goddess, waiting all alone. 
She knows that hosts of lovers late or soon 
Will throng about her, eager for a boon. 
Her eyes of blue, her fluffy golden hair, 
Would prove a painter's passion and despair. 
Her dainty ankle (stocking silken black) , 
Would make a hasty passer-by look back. 
And who her girlish figure could behold 
Without desiring her above all gold? 
So charmingly she tossed her golden head, 
"An angel come from heaven, " people said. 

igi6. 



51 



THE DOCTOR 

(With acknowledgments to the author of " Gunga 

Din") 

Yes, I knew the doctor well, 
And if only I could tell 

You of his work and all he did to lessen pain, 
You'd understand the story 
Of a life that reaped no glory 

Yet deserved the richest tribute man can gain . 

Where the pulse of traffic beat 
On the overcrowded street ; 

And the city's roar and clatter filled the air; 
Where lust and crime and thirst 
Brought conditions to the worst, 

You'd be sure to find the doctor working there . 

Though the doctor too was poor, 
Yet he'd go from door to door 

Of the "East Side" in the night and in the 
day; 

52 



The Doctor 53 

And he'd help them one and all, 
For he never failed a call, 

Though he knew he wasn't getting any pay. 

A friend of his once said : 

"It's too hopeless — they're soon dead. 

Anyhow — just drop the place and come with 
me"; 
But he answered (pointing down 
To his section of the town) , 

"That's the very place a doctor ought to be. *" 

And now his work is done, 
And perhaps the doctor's gone 

To a place that knows no sin, or pain, or fear; 
But it's ten to one, you know, 
That he chose to go below 

Helping those who need him most — As he 
did here. 

JQII. 



AT VERDUN 

(Composed at Verdun, France, January, 1917) 

Here, where the forts of grim Verdun stand guard 

Warding a nation's destiny and Hfe; 
Here, where the foe's advance at last is barred 

And France is saved, in this appalHng strife; 
How often do my thoughts go back to thee, 

Beloved one, that I have known so well. 
The angel of my dreams across the sea. 

Spirit of Love more fair than words can tell ! 
Even the tumult of the cannonade 

Seems in the wild weird night to die away 
When like a guardian angel, unafraid. 

Thy spirit comes to greet me in the fray. 
Ah, surely then has love eternal power 
To cheer our spirits through each desperate 
hour. 

1917. 



54 



THOU KNOWEST 

Thou knowest that I love thee, oh my dear ! 
Thou knowest how through many a youthful 

year 
Before we both could truly understand, 
Even in that enchanted Children's Land, 
A certain consciousness of love to be 
Attracted each to other. 
We could feel and see 
The light and hope of love's eternal fire. 
And first faint dreams of yearning and desire 
That drew me unto you, beloved heart, 
And you, dear, unto me. 

igi6. 



55 



DRIFTWOOD OF THE SEAS 

Through the channels of the city, 
Wheresoe'er the tide may please, 

Drift the legions — helpless, hopeless, 
As the driftwood of the seas. 



56 



THE VERDICT 

Oh tell us which is greatest: the Captain of 
Finance, 
Or the toiler with his pick and bar and spade ; 
The youthful happy heiress who leads the glitter- 
ing dance, 
Or the other child — half fed and underpaid? 

Oh tell us who is conqueror : the general on the field 
Who knows that all the nation calls him 
"friend," 
Or the invalid who battles with a foe that will 
not yield. 
Yet smiles and keeps up courage to the end? 

And tell us which is greatest : the men who think 
they know, 
Or the unassuming, trusting little child? 
"But wasn't there an answer in the ages long 
ago, 
Who was it, now, on whom the Master 
smiled?" 

57 



58 The Verdict 

Oh tell us which is greatest — for the crimson 
sunset light 
Descends on rich and poor, and high and low! 
"The verdict is not spoken till the ending of the 
night." 
Forgive us, Lord, for who are we to know? 

1913- 



TO A GIRL 

I miss you, little friend. I never knew 

How dear you were until we said good-bye. 

Do you remember now the somber sky, 
Sunset, and ash of roses, and gray-blue? 
Do you recall the words I spoke to you. 

And you to me? The darkening clouds on 
high 

Weirdly and coldly told of winter nigh. 
How quickly then the happy moments flew I 
And now — so many, many miles away — 

I dream of you, and you of me I know. 
How often since that well-remembered day 

Have I recalled the sunset and the glow, 
And in the land of Memory at last 
Lived once again our dream-life of the past ! 

1915- 



59 



AMERICA'S MISSION 

Let this be thy mission, America, 

First to make thyself 

Worthy of the noblest dreams that ever thou hast 

dreamt. 
Forgetting not to learn from other lands 
Such teachings as they have to offer thee. 
And then, 

Thus having learned and builded, 
Go thou forth; 

Not with a sword, but with a scroll 
And bid the backward lands, 
To learn what thou in turn can'st offer them: 
Liberty, 
Truth, 
Democracy, 

The brotherhood of all the nations of the earth, 
Dwelling in faith and light. 
And when to thee shall come 
Strangers from foreign shores, 
May they behold 
Thy monuments of bronze, 

60 



America's Mission 6i 

Thy buildings vast of granite 
Against the skies of blue, 
And seeing may they know- 
That these 

Stand as the outward symbols 
Of the courage and the freedom of thy Soul. 

Marchy igi6. 



HOMEWARD BOUND 

For years I've lived afar, 

But now the battle's won, 
The ages of toil are passed 

And the work of my life is done. 
My home lies far away, 

And oh, the relief from pain. 
When at the close of the day 

I turn to mine own again ! 
Turn to those long-lost paths. 

The haunts of my early trails. 
When I lived in a world I loved, — ■ 

A world of tides and rails. 
Those who love their own 

Theywell can understand 
My longing for my own — 

My own beloved land. 

Though 5^ears have intervened, 

My thoughts have been with you still. 
Each mile of the glistening rails, 
62 



Homeward Bound 63 

Each city and river and hill 
Of the well-remembered land 

Has cheered, me through my life, 
And led me ever on 

Through toil and pain and strife. 

But now the night is gone 

And I'm off for my home again; 
Off for the trails I love 

And the city that soothes my pain : 
The city beside the sea 

Where the glorious harbor lies, 
With its towers of steel and stone 

That mount to the very skies. 
And every ship and train 

That I long have loved and known 
Will welcome me back again — 

When I return to mine own. 



J^I2. 



L'ENVOI 

Sleep, great city, sleep. 

The silver moon rides high, 
The tide so calm and deep 

About thy gates goes by ; 

Far in the summer sky 
The myriad stars look down 

On granite tower and office wall, 

Humble dwelling and marble hall, 

The drowsy moonlight softens all, — 

Over the great gray town. 

Turn to your needed rest, 
City of toil and dreams, 

High in the starlit west 

The white moon softly gleams ; 
The tired city seems 

To drowse in the dim, warm night. 
On wall and housetop, high and low, 
Shadows of black, and silver glow. 
Where the slanting moonbeams fall below, 

With mystic, starry light. 

64 



L* Envoi 65 

Wanderer, ragged and sad, 
Lay down your head to rest ; 

Maiden, radiant, glad, 

Pause in your joyous quest, 
(For the Angel of Sleep has blest 

Each one, ere they close their eyes;) 

Dancer — dream of your love at the ball. 
Wanderer — dream of a marble hall, 
For in sleep you are equal, one and all, 

By the glow of the star-dim skies. 

Sleep, great city, sleep. 

The drowsy moon rides high. 
The tide so still and deep 

About thy gates goes by; 

Far in the warm night sky 
The pitying stars look down 

On home and tenement, tower and wall, 

Prison and hospital, house and hall, 

The kindly moonlight softens all, — 

Over the great, gray town. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 



67 



STAR OF THE WEST 

They come from the other lands, 

Lands of a by-gone day, 
From the rule of a tyrant's hands 

And a dream that has passed away. 
Poverty, loss, and pain, 

Ignorance, endless toil, 
Have been their measure of gain 

From a worn-out, blood-stained soil. 

They have been crushed and torn ; 

There has been slaughter and strife; 
Their lands are wasted and worn, 

And they need new hope and life. 
So they come where the great ship rides 

And they pray that they may have rest, 
As they follow the star that guides — 

Star of the West. 

The gangway soon is crossed, 

The twilight dies away, 
The afterglow is lost, 

And the great, dim night holds sway. 
69 



70 Star of the West 

Beyond the westward bar, 

The sea is dark and vast ; 
But the wanderers see a Star 

That shall guide them home at last. 

The liner swings from the dock, 

The Lighthouse Cape is cleared, 
She passes the last lone rock 

And her course for the West is steered 
The travellers gaze on high 

As they sail from a land oppressed, 
And they see thee afar in the sky — 

Star of the West. 

Star of our steadfast dream — 

Liberty, Truth — 
Long may thy splendor gleam. 

Leading our youth. 
Bright in thy nobler sky, 

Radiant, blest, 
Guide, as the years go by, 

Star of the West. 

1914. 



SPACE 

Into the void of space, 

Beyond the sight of our eyes, 

Telescopes barely trace 

The nearer stars of the skies. 

And beyond the feeble zone 
Of our latest and greatest lens, 

Ultimate, vast, unknown. 
The universe extends. 

Moved by resistless force 

Through interstellar night, 
Suns, in their ordered course, 

Glow in majestic flight. 

In the stormy abyss of space 

Nebulae flare and swirl ; 
Comets through star-dust race, 

Luminous meteors whirl 

And flash through the starry swarm 
Where the lights of the universe glow, 
71 



72 space 

While newer planets form 
Above, around, below. 

Bom in terrestrial strife, 

To the law of the universe true, 

Worids, after aeons of life, 
Die — tobe bom anew. 

Infinite endless change, 
Limitless space and time, 

Systems of worid that range 
Over their course sublime: 

Ever eternal life — 

Ever recurring death — 

Ever the dying strife — 
Ever. the waking breath. 

And little enough we know ; 

Little enough we see 
Of what the worlds can show . 

Pitiftd — what are, we? 

But this at least we find 
In the starry realms of awe : 

An all-controlling mind ; 
A universal law. 

1913- 



TO A COQUETTE 

They said you were hard-hearted, 

And cruel and vain, 

Thinking only of your own pleasure and happi- 
ness. 

Planning your campaign of conquests 

At each ball or entertainment which you at- 
tended, 

And caring far more for the perfection of your 
delicately suggestive dress 

Than for a world of infinitely better things. 

But though many people more or less disap- 
proved of your hard-heartedness, 

They all admitted you were beautiful 

And charming 

And alluring. 

Wherefore I desired to meet you and see for myself 

What you were like. 

I found that you were indeed a coquette — 

Apparently quite hard-hearted, 

73 



74 To a Coquette 

And yet there was something in your eyes and in 

your manner 
That told of a warmth and tenderness 
Of heart and soul 
Beneath the exterior of light-hearted and trivia 

frivolity. 
And one day this was proved to me ; 
For as we sat talking together 
An old, old man, bent over with age and infirmity 
Walked slowly past along the nearby road, 
Tapping his walking stick on the pavement, 
His head bent to see the road before him and 

guide his slow footsteps. 
Though now and again he looked up to the blue 

sky and white clouds at the distant horizon 
As though at something he would not see for long. 
As you watched him 
I saw your eyes fill with tears — 
Although you tried to hide it from me, 
As soon as you knew I knew, 
By looking away and calling my attention to 

something in the other direction. 
Soon we resumed our former carelessly happy 

conversation, 
And after dinner that evening 
I saw you half pause before a full-length mirror 



To a Coquette 75 

And glance alluringly over your shoulder 
At your reflection ; 

Then, seemingly satisfied, pass on to the ballroom 
Where conquests awaited you. 

1915- 



BROKEN HEARTS 

It is strange to see you unhappy, — 

You who were always so light-hearted, 

A princess among coquettes, — 

You who are so sought after and admired by all 

men. 
Careless breaker of hearts. 
It is strange to see you yourself heartbroken, 
And we, whose hopes you have so lightly dashed 

aside — 
We, who loved you and thought you loved us 
In days gone by. 
Sympathize with you 
And long to make you happy 
(For we have forgiven you, and worship you now 

as in the past) ; 
And — were we able — would gladly 
Restore your lover to you. 
But this may not be, dear girl. 
You know now what pain is 
For your lover loves another girl 
Better than you. 

1915- 

76 



RIVALS 

The two girls were rivals. 

They had first met a week before, 

And since then had only seen each other once or 

twice — at dances. 
But each knew that both were beautiful — 
Hence naturally rivals for the admiration of 

the young men. 
When asked if the other were not attractive, 
Each would say, 
"Yes, she is — But why does she do her hair that 

way?" 
Or, 
"She's quite attractive — but she would be much 

prettier with a different dress." 
Neither would quite admit that the other was 

absolute perfection. 
Both were generally considered to be flirts — 
Though kind at heart. 
On one occasion at a dance 
Each happened to glance over her shoulder at 

the other 

77 



78 Rivals 

Just a little bit jealously and scornfully. 
Their eyes met 

And then — they both laughed good-naturedly, 
For they understood. 

J 91 5' 



IF I WERE DYING 

I know that if I were dying, dying, 
Nearing the dim eternal sea, 

My thoughts across the distance flying 
Swiftly would come to thee, to thee. 

IQl6. 



79 



TO A GIRL 

Just to be near you, dear, 

And hold you close to me, 

And hear the whispered words 

That make my dreams come true. 

Your love and warmth and tenderness and fire 

Flame and awake my spirit with desire. 

And each caress 

Then seems to bless 

The sacredness of love's immortal plan. 

Dear heart, it is my constant hope 

That always where you are 

There I may be. 

By mountain far or dreaming sea. 

And oh my prayer may Heaven hear : 

Just to be near you, dear ! 

August, 1917. 



80 



SHE SLEEPS 

She is not dead but sleepeth, 

Softly now, lest you disturb her in her quiet 

dreaming ; 
She is not dead but sleepeth, 
Gently now the moonlight through the curtain 

lace is streaming. 

How peaceful and serene her fair young face. 

Her eyehds closed in still, refreshing gladness! 

For with a heart so true there is no place 

For sorrow or for sadness. 

She is not dead but sleepeth; 

Soon again she will awake and leave the silent 

portal 
To make eternal in our dwelling place 
Our love immortal. 

August 20, IQI7' 



8i 



FOREVER YOUNG 

Forever young, forever like a dream 

Of wonder-love and tenderness divine, 

My heart will always hold and worship thine 

In love undying. 

For though the years go past 

My dream of youth will last 

While time is flying. 

Forever you shall be 

The same dear heart to me 

As in those Golden Days of youth and laughter. 

For in the Land of Dreams 

Where stunmer sunshine gleams 

As it has been so will it be hereafter. 

August 20, 1 91 7. 



82 



WORLDS IN THE MAKING 

Through the endless night, 
Through the void astray ; 

Limitless in flight, 
Star-dust drifts away. 

Ceaseless radiation 
Whirlsi the dust afar; 

Ceaseless gravitation 
Forms it in a star. 

Thus a world is made ; 

Thus it takes its place, 
Where its course is laid 

In unending space. 

1913- 



83 



CHILDREN'S LAND 

Come where the children play, 

There shall you know 
Dreams of another day, 

Long, long ago; 
When in the Golden Land 

Likewise you played, 
And on the Magic Sand 

Joyously strayed. 

Oft from your present road, 

Dreaming — you glance 
Back to the old abode, 

As in a trance, 
And in your longing eyes, 

Softly the tears 
Tell you that bygone ties 

Hold — through the years. 

Come to the Land of Dreams, 

Memory Land, 
Warmly the sunshine gleams ; 

Forest and sand, 
84 



Children's Land 85 

Orchard and shady grove, 

Hillside and plain — 
Call to their early love, 

Come back again. 

So to the Land of Spring, 

Youthful and fair, 
Come — it will surely bring 

Rest from all care ; 
Bright is the Magic Sand, 

Forest and plain — 
Come to the Children's Land,. 

Dream — once again. 

igi4. 



